NAIROBI, Kenya- A team of lawyers led by Bernard Kipkoech Ngetich has called on President William Ruto to institute an independent public inquiry into the controversial Kericho mass burials, following disturbing findings from post-mortem examinations.
The lawyers say revelations by government pathologist Richard Njoroge point to possible foul play, with several bodies showing signs of blunt force trauma, raising fresh questions about the circumstances under which the victims died.
Autopsy findings deepen mystery
Preliminary autopsy reports indicate that some of the exhumed bodies bore injuries consistent with blunt trauma, contradicting earlier suggestions that the deaths may have resulted from natural causes or medical complications.
The findings have intensified scrutiny over the mass burial in Kericho, where dozens of bodies, including children, were secretly interred in a cemetery under unclear circumstances.
Authorities had earlier confirmed that at least 33 bodies were exhumed from the site, with investigators probing whether due legal procedures were followed in transferring the remains from a hospital mortuary.
Lawyers demand accountability
Speaking after reviewing the post-mortem findings, Ngetich and his legal team argued that the presence of trauma injuries shifts the case from a procedural lapse to a potential criminal matter.
They are now pushing for a judicial commission of inquiry to establish:
- The true cause of death of the victims
- Whether any state or non-state actors were involved
- If there was a cover-up in the handling and burial of the bodies
The lawyers warned that failure to act decisively risks eroding public trust in state institutions and the justice system.
Human rights concerns
The case has also drawn sharp criticism from rights groups, including the Kenya Human Rights Commission, which has raised alarm over the existence of undocumented bodies beyond those legally cleared for burial.
According to the commission, only a fraction of the bodies had proper court authorization for disposal, with dozens more buried without clear documentation — a development it says could point to enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings.
Pressure mounts on the government
The lawyers’ demands pile pressure on President Ruto’s administration to act swiftly amid growing public concern.
They argue that only a transparent and independent inquiry can establish the truth and ensure accountability for what could become one of Kenya’s most disturbing forensic and human rights cases in recent years.
As investigations continue, the Kericho burials have reopened painful national conversations around unexplained deaths, accountability, and the integrity of public institutions tasked with protecting life.
